Schwartz & Schwartz’s Wills, Trusts and Estates attorneys assist Delaware residents to organize and plan for a secure future.
Who should consult a Wills, Trusts and Estates Attorney?
Our clients span a very broad spectrum. Some are high net worth individuals who require complex trust and estate planning services to ensure maximum wealth protection and transfer to future generations. Alternately, some clients are working class folks who wish to take all reasonable steps available to protect equity and assets they have accumulated over a lifetime of hard work and dedication. Anyone with assets or income, and anyone with dependents relying on them, ought to consult with a Wills, Trusts and Estates Attorney to make sure they and their loved ones are financially protected. In addition, many of our clients seek estate planning services to avoid putting a burden on their loved ones in the event they require hospitalization or end-of-life care. As part of our basic estate planning package, we provide a power of attorney and an advance healthcare directive that clearly set forth your wishes concerning financial and medical decisions during your lifetime, but when you are unable to make those decisions for yourself.
Who are the Attorneys in the Wills, Trusts and Estates practice at Schwartz & Schwartz?
The attorneys in our Wills, Trusts and Estates practice are law firm founder Steven Schwartz and attorney William T. “Bill” Deely. To contact Steven or Bill, please click here. If you are currently represented by an S&S attorney and you would like to learn more about wills, trusts and estates, ask your attorney to schedule you for a free consultation with Steven or Bill.
Delaware Wills, Trusts and Estates Lawyers
How much does it cost to meet with an attorney about a will or estate matter?
We generally provide free initial consultations to individuals wishing to prepare a will or discuss putting their affairs in order. The attorney will quote you a flat fee or provide an estimate of the total fee that will be charged to complete your matter. Once you have retained us to prepare your estate plan documents, we will want to see you back in the office periodically to make sure that the documents are conformed over time to changes in your life, your relationships, and your assets. Follow-up meetings for periodic review are typically billed at the attorney’s hourly rate or included in the flat fee charged for document modifications.
We try to make proper estate planning reasonably affordable for average people. Fees in estate planning matters are set by the consulting attorney. Our fee for our basic package including a simple will, durable power of attorney, and advance healthcare directive starts at under $1,000.00 per person.
Do you make home and hospital visits?
Yes, our attorneys regularly provide consultations and schedule will signings at our clients’ homes. When our clients are confined in the hospital, we are available to travel to local hospitals as well. If you need us to come to you, please let us know when you contact us.
What are the steps in the will preparation process?
The first step in the process is meeting with Steven or Bill. At that initial consultation, the attorney will ask you questions that will help us understand your family tree, the assets you own and how they are titled, and your wishes concerning how your estate should be distributed after your death, who should be trusted with the obligations of distributing your assets, and any restrictions you wish to place on the distribution or use of your assets.
The second step involves a return visit to our office to complete and execute the documents that the attorney has drafted for you. At the “signing” appointment, you will review your documents and discuss them with your attorney, and you, the attorney, and any necessary witnesses will complete and execute the planning documents.
The third step we recommend is to return periodically for review and possible update of the estate plan documents. Any time there is a material change in your family, or any time there is a material change in the nature or title of your assets, you may want your attorney to review the plan documents to insure that they remain relevant. We recommend an annual “checkup” to review the plan documents.
Do you handle wills, trusts and estates for people outside of Delaware?
Although we have offices outside of Delaware, our Wills, Trusts and Estates practice is currently able to serve only residents of the State of Delaware. If you need to find an attorney outside of the State of Delaware, feel free to contact us and we will do our best to provide a referral to a reputable attorney or law firm in the State and County where you maintain your primary residence.
Delaware Wills, Trusts and Estates Lawyers
Click or Call 1-855-TIP-THE-SCALES
We have offices conveniently located to provide expert legal representation in Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey and Pennsylvania.
Please direct all mail to our
Dover, Delaware office.
Please note that we only accept mail, exparte notice or service of process at our Dover, Delaware office, and DO NOT accept mail, exparte notice or service of process at our regional office locations.
